Quickie ask before we jump in: I’m shaping what Life at Play becomes this year and would love your input. If you have 3 minutes, take the survey here. Forever grateful.

A month ago, I sent a big reflection on my first year building Life at Play (if you missed it, you can read it here).

It was emotional and honest and a little scary to share. Mainly because most of us, myself included, have been conditioned to never share money, politics, or religion… and I went ahead and slapped my ol’ salary right in the subtitle.

And dang did it spark something in all of you.

After reflecting on the replies, something clicked that I’d been avoiding admitting to myself. And after nine months of being asked, and asking myself, what exactly am I building here, the answer finally felt obvious.

Life at Play is simply this. A newsletter.

This newsletter is the main thing. The heartbeat. The offer.

And if I’m honest, I think I’ve been avoiding saying that. Like I was supposed to be building something bigger or shinier or MORE impressive than just a newsletter.

But the truth is, this little newsletter is the work that lights me up. And the messages I receive from many of you tell me it lights you up too. Which in turn lights me up even more. That’s right, full circle babayyy. 🙂

So yeah, Life at Play is “just” a newsletter. But it’s also a permission slip. A reminder that life can be lived with joy, spontaneity, and creativity, not just seriousness and pressure. A permission slip to always try new things and come back to yourself.

And it’s a community. A place we gather. Where we experiment, learn, play, pause, screw up, and grow together.

And it gives me a way to share access to all the incredible people, resources, and experiences happening in this unique little town in the woods. Because let me tell you, there is a LOT to learn from this community. (Proof: my five-plus pages of story ideas waiting to be written.)

And this thing is bigger than me. As my dear friend and author of The Orphan Witch, Paige Crutcher once told me about releasing stories into the world, I may write the words, but the story belongs to you once you read them. You decide what to take, what to question, what to try, or what to ignore.

So today, instead of just announcing changes, I want to invite you into shaping what comes next.

Because Life at Play isn’t going anywhere. And I hope you are along for the long ride.

In Today’s Issue

• 📰 This newsletter is the heartbeat: the changes & lanes

• 🔄 The change I’m considering making: 2 sections

• 📊 Okay, your turn: a 3 minute survey (please! I love you)

• 💌 Small Invitation: If you’re in a season of questioning too

• 📍For the Locals: 👀 In Case You Missed It, 📅 Events

Subscribe now

📰 This newsletter is the heartbeat.

This newsletter is home base. (And wow, that feels good to say.)

Everything else I do — social media antics, local Serenbe area resources (like the visitors guide, directory, event calendar, women’s business cohort, the occasional IRL Play Dates), even the growth/marketing consulting and brand partnerships exist to support THIS.

Which ultimately exists to support you. And me too (bc I need this just as much as anyone else.)

To help us get out of autopilot. To question hustle and busyness. To make sure we’re actually aiming at the life we want.

The work here is still the same:

I’m exploring what it looks like to stop living on default and build a life that actually feels good. In real time. Imperfectly. With curiosity instead of certainty. And having some freakin fun while doing it. No matter your age or stage of life.

Serenbe just happens to be the setting where a lot of this experiment — and many of the people I’m learning from — live right now.

I’ve started calling it the laboratory, and referring to myself as the correspondent from the woods.

🔄 The change I’m considering making

These newsletters are currently long. Like, make-a-snack-and-cancel-plans long.

Most issues take me two FULL DAYS to pull together. Which, reality check, is not the vibe if I’m trying to build a slower, more intentional life.

—

Real quick, if you’re new here: nine months ago I walked away from corporate with one big question: “Is this it?” I didn’t know what was next. I just knew I had to try something different.
Today I’m somewhere in the messy middle, building this wild idea in real time.
The goal? 9–3 workdays. Four-day weeks. Two months off a year. $150K minimum salary. Work that feels like play.

—

So I’m thinking about tightening the format and splitting things into two lanes.

And If you only want one lane, you can do that. If you want both, you can do that too. (Substack added a “sections” feature a few months back, so you get exactly what you want. wahoo!)

1) Life at Play with Gina Kawalek (the main)

2–3(ish) shorter letters each month. Same heart. More bite-size stories, experiments, conversations, and perspective on work, ambition, identity, motherhood, and building lives that actually feel good.

2) Around Here (a sub-section)

2(ish) quick local editions each month for Serenbe + Chatt Hills and this weird little pocket of people trying to live differently. Events, openings, community updates, seasonal guides — the stuff you’d text a friend who lives here or is visiting.

(If you hang out on my Instagram, you’ve probably seen this series starting there too.)

📊 Okay, your turn

If you’ve been reading, replying, lurking, or forwarding these to a friend in a “wait, what am I doing with my life” season, or dang im curious about Serenbe I want your input.

I made a 3-minute survey so I can shape 2026 around what you actually want more of.

Take the 3-minute survey

(Takes ~3 minutes. Truly shapes what comes next.)

And if surveys aren’t your thing, just hit reply and tell me:

What do you hope Life at Play becomes this year?

One small invitation to pause and think

As I’ve been reworking this newsletter, I’ve also been asking myself:

Where am I doing things just because that’s how I’ve always done them?

If you’re in a questioning season too, maybe this is your nudge to look at one part of your life and ask:

Is this still working for me? Or am I just on autopilot?

📍 For the Locals

👀 In Case You Missed It

Quick hits of neighborhood news + updates, straight from the community.

Local Directory: Get listed | Browse the directory

• Woodsong Farm Beef Share Local Chatt Hills farm offering grass-fed beef shares for families who want local meat without buying a whole cow.

  Reserve a share here

• Ray Jones Now Booking Local Photo Sessions The artist behind Palmetto Project (yes, Rolling Stone + NYT level talent) is now offering portrait sessions locally. A rare chance to have your life beautifully documented + a once in a lifetime Film. Learn more + reach out (online bookings coming soon).

• Creature Hairstream Has Landed Local stylist Jenn Jones just opened her vintage 1978 Airstream turned modern mobile salon — Creature Hairstream. (Also owner of Creature Salon in Inman Park.) Follow her on InstagramBook an appointment

• Join the Serenbe Farms CSA: April – December (30 Weeks) | 6-7 organic produce items per week. Pick up at Serenbe Farms each Tuesday 4:30-7pm | Sign Up

• Blue Eyed Daisy Expanding Patio Construction is underway on a new covered patio, but it’s business as usual inside. Open daily 8–3, with Sunday brunch and Monday Burger Night from 5–7.

• Tuesday night Softball is back for the Fall 2025 season! League starts March 10th at the Serenbe Athletic Fields and runs through late April. This is Co-Ed for ages 16+. No age limit, this style softball is great for EVERYONE. Learn more and sign up

• Mash Bakes Valentine Heart Cakes Available for Pre-Order Order customizable 4” two-layer heart cakes for Valentine’s Day, available for pre-order through Feb 9.

• Feb Chatt Hills Newspaper issue is live. read here

• Brickworks Fundraiser Seeking Block Captains Volunteers are needed across Serenbe neighborhoods, especially Selborne and Mado, to support the Brickworks fundraising drive. Email [email protected] to help.

📅 Local Events

The local events worth knowing about this month.

Browse or subscribe to the calendar anytime at lifeatplay.co/events. Add your own events if you’re hosting something worth sharing – submit here.

• Feb 2 Red Cross Blood Drive in Chatt Hills Give blood and help save lives at tomorrow’s local drive. Find details and sign up here.

• Feb 5 • Open Mic Night at Halsa | Musicians, storytellers, poets, and brave souls welcome. Doors open at 6 PM and it’s always a fun, low-pressure crowd. Free to attend or jump in and perform. Sign up

• Feb 6-7 • Art Farm at Serenbe Kicks Off 2026 with AILEY: Film Showcase Weekend — a film screening, wine dinner, and live panel celebrating the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey.

• Feb 7 • SnackBAR Pop-Up Elevated bites, cocktails, and a special menu in front of Gainey Hall during the AILEY: Film Showcase. Drop by or preorder. See the full menu and details here.

• Feb 7 • No Farmers Market This Saturday Serenbe Farmers Market is canceled, but you can shop the Tuesday Pop-Up Market in the greenhouse from 4–6:30pm or catch the market inside Gainey Hall starting Feb 14.

• Feb 7 • Author Talk with Dr. Phill Tabb Join local author Phill Tabb on Feb 7 at 2pm at chatt Hills library for a conversation on architecture, art, and the vision behind Serenbe. Reserve your spot

• Feb 6–7 • AILEY Film Showcase Weekend at Art Farm A weekend celebrating Alvin Ailey’s legacy with film screenings, a wine dinner, and conversations about art, leadership, and community. Details & tickets

• Feb 14 • Kids Valentine’s Movie Night + Parents Night Out Drop the kids for games, pizza, and a screening of Gnomeo & Juliet while you enjoy the evening. Feb 14, 5–8pm at Team Genesis BJJ. Text 740-603-8040 for more info and to reserve a spot.

I’m really grateful you’re here early. Thank you for being part of this thing.

Sending you love.
And I hope to see you on the trails (I’ve been getting out there more!)

xx, Gina

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